the oakdale affair-第20部分

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pon　the　floor；　deep　in　slumber。　　Into　the　blacker　shadows　of　the　far　end　of　the　room　the　man　failed　to　shine　his　light　for　the　first　flash　had　shown　him　those　whom　he　sought。　　Picking　out　their　quarry　the　intruders　made　a　sudden　rush　upon　the　sleepers。

Bridge　awoke　to　find　two　men　attempting　to　rain　murderous　blows　upon　his　head。　　Wiry；　strong　and　full　of　the　vigor　of　a　clean　life；　he　pitted　against　their　greater　numbers　and　cowardly　attack　a　defense　which　was　infinitely　more　strenuous　than　they　had　expected。

Columbus　Blackie　leaped　for　The　Oskaloosa　Kid；　while　The　Sky　Pilot　seized　upon　Abigail　Prim。　　No　one　paid　any　attention　to　Giova；　nor；　with　the　noise　and　con…　fusion；　did　the　intruders　note　the　sudden　clanking　of　a　chain　from　out　the　black　depths　of　the　room's　further　end；　or　the　splintering　of　a　half　decayed　studding。

Soup　Face　entangling　himself　about　Bridge's　legs　suc…　ceeded　in　throwing　the　latter　to　the　floor　while　Dirty　Eddie　kicked　viciously　at　the　prostrate　man's　head。　　The　Sky　Pilot　seized　Abigail　Prim　about　the　waist　and　dragged　her　toward　the　doorway　and　though　the　girl　fought　valiantly　to　free　herself　her　lesser　muscles　were　unable　to　cope　successfully　with　those　of　the　man。　　Co…　lumbus　Blackie　found　his　hands　full　with　The　Oskaloosa　Kid。　　Again　and　again　the　youth　struck　him　in　the　face；　but　the　man　persisted；　beating　down　the　slim　hands　and　striking　viciously　at　body　and　head　until；　at　last；　the　boy；　half　stunned　though　still　struggling；　was　dragged　from　the　room。

Simultaneously　a　series　of　frightful　growls　reverber…　ated　through　the　deserted　mill。　　A　huge　body　cata…　pulted　into　the　midst　of　the　fighters。　　Abigail　Prim　screamed。　　〃The　bear！〃　she　cried。　　〃The　bear　is　loose！〃

Dirty　Eddie　was　the　first　to　feel　the　weight　of　Beppo's　wrath。　　His　foot　drawn　back　to　implant　a　vicious　kick　in　Bridge's　face　he　paused　at　the　girl's　scream　and　at　the　same　moment　a　huge　thing　reared　up　before　him。　　Just　for　an　instant　he　sensed　the　terrifying　presence　of　some　frightful　creature；　caught　the　reflected　gleam　of　two　savage　eyes　and　felt　the　hot　breath　from　distended　jaws　upon　his　cheek；　then　Beppo　swung　a　single　terrific　blow　which　caught　the　man　upon　the　side　of　the　head　to　spin　him　across　the　floor　and　drop　him　in　a　crumpled　heap　against　the　wall；　with　a　fractured　skull。　　Dirty　Eddie　was　out。　　Soup　Face；　giving　voice　to　a　scream　more　bestial　than　human；　rose　to　his　feet　and　fled　in　the　oppo…　site　direction。

Beppo　paused　and　looked　about。　　He　discovered　Bridge　lying　upon　the　floor　and　sniffed　at　him。　　The　man　lay　perfectly　quiet。　　He　had　heard　that　often　times　a　bear　will　not　molest　a　creature　which　it　thinks　dead。　　　Be　that　as　it　may　Beppo　chanced　at　that　moment　to　glance　toward　the　doorway。　　There；　silhouetted　against　the　lesser　darkness　without；　he　saw　the　figures　of　Co…　lumbus　Blackie　and　The　Oskaloosa　Kid　and　with　a　growl　he　charged　them。　　The　two　were　but　a　few　paces　outside　the　doorway　when　the　full　weight　of　the　great　bear　struck　Columbus　Blackie　between　the　shoulders。　　　Down　went　the　man　and　as　he　fell　he　released　his　hold　upon　the　youth　who　immediately　turned　and　ran　for　the　road。

The　momentum　of　the　bear　carried　him　past　the　body　of　his　intended　victim　who；　frightened　but　uninjured；　scrambled　to　his　feet　and　dashed　toward　the　rear　of　the　mill　in　the　direction　of　the　woods　and　distant　swamp。　　　Beppo；　recovering　from　his　charge；　wheeled　in　time　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　his　quarry　after　whom　he　made　with　all　the　awkwardness　that　was　his　birthright　and　with　the　speed　of　a　race　horse。

Columbus　Blackie；　casting　a　terrified　glance　rear…　ward；　saw　his　Nemesis　flashing　toward　him；　and　dodged　around　a　large　tree。　　Again　Beppo　shot　past　the　man　while　the　latter；　now　shrieking　for　help；　raced　madly　in　a　new　direction。

Bridge　had　arisen　and　come　out　of　the　mill。　　He　called　aloud　for　The　Oskaloosa　Kid。　　Giova　answered　him　from　a　small　tree。　　〃Climb！〃　she　cried。　　〃Climb　a　tree！　Ever'one　climb　a　small　tree。　　Beppo　he　go　mad。　　He　keel　ever'one。　　　Run！　Climb！　He　keel　me。　　Beppo　he　got　evil…eye。〃

Along　the　road　from　the　north　came　a　large　touring　car；　swinging　from　side　to　side　in　its　speed。　　Its　brilliant　headlights　illuminated　the　road　far　ahead。　　They　picked　out　The　Sky　Pilot　and　Abigail　Prim；　they　found　The　Oskaloosa　Kid　climbing　a　barbed　wire　fence　and　then　with　complaining　brakes　the　car　came　to　a　sudden　stop。　　　Six　men　leaped　from　the　machine　and　rounded　up　the　three　they　had　seen。　　Another　came　running　toward　them。　　It　was　Soup　Face；　so　thoroughly　terrified　that　he　would　gladly　have　embraced　a　policeman　in　uniform；　could　the　latter　have　offered　him　protection。

A　boy　accompanied　the　newcomers。　　〃There　he　is！〃　he　screamed；　pointing　at　The　Oskaloosa　Kid。　　〃There　he　is！　And　you've　got　Miss　Prim；　too；　and　when　do　I　get　the　reward？〃

〃Shut　up！〃　said　one　of　the　men。

〃Watch　this　bunch；〃　said　Burton　to　one　of　his　lieuten…　ants；　〃while　we　go　after　the　rest　of　them。　　There　are　some　over　by　the　mill。　　I　can　hear　them。〃

From　the　woods　came　a　fearfilled　scream　mingled　with　the　savage　growls　of　a　beast。

〃It's　the　bear；〃　shrilled　Willie　Case；　and　ran　toward　the　automobile。

Bridge　ran　forward　to　meet　Burton。　　〃Get　that　girl　and　the　kid　into　your　machine　and　beat　it！〃　he　cried。　　〃There's　a　bear　loose　here；　a　regular　devil　of　a　bear。　　You　can't　do　a　thing　unless　you　have　rifles。　　Have　you？〃

〃Who　are　you？〃　asked　the　detective。

〃He's　one　of　the　gang；〃　yelled　Willie　Case　from　the　fancied　security　of　the　tonneau。　　〃Seize　him！〃　He　wanted　to　add：　〃My　men〃；　but　somehow　his　nerve　failed　him　at　the　last　moment；　however　he　had　the　satisfaction　of　thinking　it。

Bridge　was　placed　in　the　car　with　Abigail　Prim；　The　Oskaloosa　Kid；　Soup　Face　and　The　Sky　Pilot。　　Burton　sent　the　driver　back　to　assist　in　guarding　them；　then　he　with　the　remaining　three；　two　of　whom　were　armed　with　rifles；　advanced　toward　the　mill。　　Beyond　it　they　heard　the　growling　of　the　bear　at　a　little　distance　in　the　wood；　but　the　man　no　longer　made　any　outcry。　　From　a　tree　Giova　warned　them　back。

〃Come　down！〃　commanded　Burton；　and　sent　her　back　to　the　car。

The　driver　turned　his　spot　light　upon　the　wood　be…　yond　the　mill　and　presently　there　came　slowly　forward　into　its　rays　the　lumbering　bulk　of　a　large　bear。　　The　light　bewildered　him　and　he　paused；　growling。　　His　left　shoulder　was　partially　exposed。

〃Aim　for　his　chest；　on　the　left　side；〃　whispered　Bur…　ton。　　The　two　men　raised　their　rifles。　　There　were　two　re…　ports　in　close　succession。　　Beppo　fell　forward　without　a　sound　and　then　rolled　over　on　his　side。　　Giova　covered　her　face　with　her　hands　and　sobbed。

〃He　ver'　bad；　ugly　bear；〃　she　said　brokenly；　〃but　he　all　I　have　to　love。〃

Bridge　extended　a　hand　and　patted　her　bowed　head。　In　the　eyes　of　The　Oskaloosa　Kid　there　glistened　some…　thing　perilously　similar　to　tears。

In　the　woods　back　of　the　mill　Burton　and　his　men　found　the　mangled　remains　of　Columbus　Blackie；　and　when　they　searched　the　interior　of　the　structure　they　brought　forth　the　unconscious　Dirty　Eddie。　　As　the　car　already　was　taxed　to　the　limit　of　its　carrying　capacity　Burton　left　two　of　his　men　to　march　The　Kid　and　Bridge　to　the　Payson　jail；　taking　the　others　with　him　to　Oak…　dale。　　He　was　also　partially　influenced　in　this　decision　by　the　fear　that　mob　violence　would　be　done　the　principals　by　Oakdale's　outraged　citizens。　　At　Payson　he　stopped　long　enough　at　the　town　jail　to　arrange　for　the　reception　of　the　two　prisoners；　to　notify　the　coroner　of　the　death　of　Columbus　Blackie　and　the　whereabouts　of　his　body　and　to　place　Dirty　Eddie　in　the　hospital。　　He　then　tele…　phoned　Jonas　Prim　that　his　daughter　was　safe　and　would　be　returned　to　him　in　less　than　an　hour。

By　the　time　Bridge　and　The　Oskaloosa　Kid　reached　Payson　the　town　was　in　an　uproar。　　A　threatening　crowd　met　them　a　block　from　the　jail；　but　Burton's　men　were　armed　with　rifles　which　they　succeeded　in　convincing　the　mob　they　would　use　if　their　prisoners　were　molested。　　　The　telephone；　however；　had　carried　the　word　to　Oak…　dale；　so　that　before　Burton　arrived　there　a　dozen　auto…　mobile　loads　of　indignant　citizens　were　racing　south　to…　ward　Payson。

Bridge　and　The　Oskaloosa　Kid　were　hustled　into　the　single　cell　of　the　Payson　jail。　　A　bench　ran　along　two　sides　of　the　room。　　A　single　barred　window　let　out　upon　the　yard　behind　the　structure。　　The　floor　was　littered　with　papers；　and　a　single　electric　light　bulb　relieved　the　gloom　of　the　unsavory　place。

The　Oskaloosa　Kid　sank；　trembling；　upon　one　of　the　hard　benches。　　Bridge　rolled　a　cigaret。　　At　his　feet　lay　a　copy　of　that　day's　Oakdale　Tribune。　　A　face　looked　up　from　the　printed　page　into　his　eyes。　　He　stooped　and　took　up　the　paper。　　The　entire　front　page　was　devoted　to　the　various　crimes　which　had　turned　peaceful　Oakdale　inside　out　in　the　past　twenty　four　hours。　　There　were　reproductions　of　photographs　of　John　Baggs；　Reginald　Paynter；　Abigail　Prim；　Jonas　Prim；　and　his　wife；　with　a　large　cut　of　the　Prim　mansion；　a　star　marking　the　bou…　doir　of　the　missing　daughter　of　the　house。　　As　Bridge　examined　the　various　pictures　an　odd　expression　en…　tered　his　eyesit　was　a　mixture　of　puzzlement；　incredu…　lity；　and　relief。　　Tossing　the　paper　aside　he　turned　to…　ward　The　Oskaloosa　Kid。　　They　could　hear　the　sullen　murmur　of　the　crowd　in　front　of　the　jail。

〃If　they　get　any　booze；〃　he　said；　〃they'll　take　us　out　of　here　and　string　us　up。　　If　you've　got　anything　to　say　that　would　tend　to　convince　them　that　you　did　not　kill　Paynter　I　advise　you　to　call　the　guard　and　tell　the　truth；　for　if　the　mob　gets　us　they　might　hang　us　first　and　listen　afterwarda　mob　is　not　a　nice　thing。　　Beppo　was　an　angel　of　mercy　by　comparison　with　one。〃

〃Could　you　convince　them　that　you　had　no　part　in　any　of　these　crimes？〃　asked　the　boy。　　〃I　know　that　you　didn't；　but　could　you　prove　it　to　a　mob？〃

〃No；〃　said　Bridge。　　〃A　mob　is　not　open　to　reason。　　If　they　get　us　I　shall　hang；　unless　someone　happens　to　think　of　the　stake。〃

The　boy　shuddered。

〃Will　you　tell　the　truth？〃　asked　the　man。

〃I　will　go　with　you；〃　replied　the　boy；　〃and　take　what…　ever　you　get。〃

〃Why？〃　asked　Bridge。

The　youth　flushed；　but　did　not　reply；　for　there　came　from　without　a　sudden　augmentation　of　the　murmur…　ings　of　the　mob。　　Automobi